PM expected to meet Corbyn for Brexit talks

Theresa May has responded to criticism from her own MPs over talks with Jeremy Corbyn by saying all MPs have a responsibility to deliver Brexit.

The PM said the public “expect us to reach across this House to find a way through this”.

Mr Corbyn said he welcomed the PM’s “willingness to compromise to resolve the Brexit deadlock”.

The PM’s move to hold talks has angered some Brexiteers, with two ministers resigning over it.

Chris Heaton-Harris became the latest to quit on Wednesday afternoon, claiming his job at the Department for Exiting the European Union had become “irrelevant” if the government is not prepared to leave without a deal.

After much contemplation, I have decided to leave Theresa May’s Government. I’m grateful to the PM for giving me the opportunity to serve the UK and I will continue to represent my constituents as the MP for Daventry. pic.twitter.com/sHkVhwJ7bb

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville-Roberts, said: “People have the opportunity to have another shot at it, [in the Commons], to change their mind.

“Surely if that is how democracy works here, then democracy should go back to the people and people should have their say on whatever model comes forward.”

The UK has until 12 April to propose a plan to the EU – which must be accepted by the bloc – or it will leave without a deal on that date.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the PM announced she wanted to meet Mr Corbyn to agree a way forward and put the plan to a vote in the Commons before 10 April – when the EU will hold an emergency summit on Brexit.

She insisted her withdrawal agreement – which was voted down last week – would remain part of the deal.

If there is no agreement between the two leaders, Mrs May said a number of options would be put to MPs “to determine which course to pursue”.

In either event, Mrs May said she would ask the EU for a further short extension to hopefully get an agreement passed by Parliament before 22 May, so the UK does not have to take part in European elections.

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Brexiteers were quick to express their anger at the prime minister’s move.

Prominent Leave supporter and former foreign secretary Boris Johnson accused Mrs May of “entrusting the final handling of Brexit to Labour”.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith told BBC News he was “absolutely appalled”, calling the Labour leader “a Marxist whose sole purpose in life is to do real damage to the country”.

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Media caption“I’m absolutely appalled”

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg also said she has seen a motion that would censure the prime minister and other government ministers for their handling of Brexit, saying this is a “taster of the anger around”.

But challenged on the decision at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mrs May said “every member of this House is involved in Brexit”, adding: “I want to deliver Brexit, I want to deliver it in an orderly way, I want to do it as soon as possible… to do that, we have to get an agreement through the House.”

Mrs May stressed that MPs had “rejected every proposal so far”.

And Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay blamed hard Brexiteers in the pro-Leave European Research Group for making the PM move this way.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the alternative to the PM’s deal was to seek votes from the opposition benches “because 35 of my own colleagues would not support the prime minister’s deal”.

And he warned that consequence of MPs not passing the PM’s deal was either a “soft Brexit or no Brexit at all”.

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Media captionTheresa May: “I’m offering to sit down with the leader of the opposition”

Mrs May told MPs there were a “number of areas” where she agreed with Mr Corbyn in relation to Brexit, including ending free movement.

Mr Corbyn said he looked forward to meeting the PM later, but added: “Let’s work to resolve Brexit deadlock, but unless this government tackles insecure work, low pay… this government will be marked down for what it is – a failure in the eyes of the people in the country.”

The Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the talks were “timely”, and he hoped Mr Corbyn would “rise to the occasion” and “come up with a compromise plan” with the prime minister.

What is the PM offering to change?

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Theresa May announced on Tuesday that she wanted to hold talks with Jeremy Corbyn on a way forward for Brexit.

But she made it clear in her statement that one element of her deal would not change.

The PM’s negotiated plan includes two sections – the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration.

The withdrawal agreement sets out how the UK would leave the EU, including the money the UK must pay to the EU as a settlement, details of the transition period, and citizens’ rights – as well as the controversial Irish backstop that aims to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

The political declaration focuses on the future relationship with the bloc and, unlike the withdrawal agreement, is not legally binding.

Mrs May said on Tuesday that any plan she agreed with Mr Corbyn “would have to agree the current withdrawal agreement”, but she was ready to discuss the future relationship, i.e. the political declaration.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay also said that was the element Labour had expressed more concern about.

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg said there was not much difference between the government’s version of Brexit and Labour’s version – but there did not seem to be “an enormous amount of confidence” a political consensus could be reached from either party.